St George Illawarra’s new recruit Val Holmes faces potential suspension following a controversial incident during Saturday’s match against South Sydney. The Dragons have begun their season poorly, now sitting at 0-2 after a late field goal from Rabbitohs rookie Jamie Humphreys sealed a 25-24 victory.
The match, held at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, saw the Rabbitohs lead 6-4 in the first half as five-eighth Cody Walker executed a clever play, deceiving his teammate Jai Arrow with a no-look pass. However, Dragons centre Holmes aggressively tackled Arrow despite him not receiving the ball, resulting in Arrow hitting the ground hard. Although referee Ashley Klein penalised Holmes, he determined that the contact was not high enough to warrant a sin binning. Nonetheless, Arrow was later taken off for a head injury assessment, suggesting that the tackle may have indeed been dangerous.
Holmes, who joined St George Illawarra on a lucrative $850,000 annual contract, remained on the field despite the incident. Arrow returned after passing his head assessment, only to be forced off again later due to another knock to the head.
In further concerns for the Dragons, Jacob Liddle was involved in a tackle that had commentators speculating whether the match review committee might investigate his actions after he fell on the leg of Siliva Havili.
As the match progressed, the Dragons appeared to be in control until late in the game, culminating in a thrilling finish. With the score at 24-24, rookie halfback Humphreys launched a long-range field goal that proved to be the match-winner for the Rabbitohs.
Humphreys expressed elation at the victory, stating, “Unreal win, backs against the wall there. We stuck it out and did what we needed to get the win.” He reflected on his decision-making leading up to the field goal, noting he felt compelled to take the chance even as things unfolded unexpectedly.
Next on the agenda, the Rabbitohs are set to face the Sharks in round three, while the Dragons will have a bye. The situation continues to highlight the competitive nature of the NRL and the ongoing scrutiny surrounding player safety and conduct on the field.